Decided to get a shot at Clover point in the rain before leaving, met a new inmate, thanks for the beer offer, buddy!

Glad I waited till later to get out of the city, with it having not rained in a month, the roads were a foam pit, sure enough, there was an accident on the Malahat. The most dangerous part of the journey is over!

I got just past Pemberton and scouted out a gravel pit for the night, just in time for a dusk lightning storm! It poured all night, and fork lightning cracked on the mountain! Somehow, I managed to keep enough coals in the fire to cook breakfast. The rain stopped by morning, and I took the Pavilion Clinton short cut to escape some pavement, and save some miles!

Man did it rain last night! It felt muggy back in Lillooette!

A sign of things to come perhaps....

I'm gonna buy one when I grow up!

Made it to PG, did not make the bike shop in time, I'll have to do that oil change later!

Gonna take it easy today, Dad has the day off today, so it's a good time for family.

It seems I'm a bit sensitive to stinging insects. Just past Kelly Lake, I hit the pavement, and remembered to do up my collar. So I did it up, thought to put my bandana over my neck, then BAM!!!!!! That's how fast I got nailed! By evening, it was red 6 inches down my chest...It's way better today, but they sure do swell up on me...New rule: cover your neck!!!

Neck covered or not, some other stinging/biting insect ended up under my shirt, nailing me 4 times above the belly button while riding! It may have been a fire ant from when I took my jacket off to deal with the first bite....

I'm going to see the pharmacy and ask what the deal is with epi-pens and if I should carry one.... I know they have to do a scratch test to see if you are allergic.....Something I'll have to deal with...I did feel a little bit dizzy for a little while after, but that could have been the stings combined with sweltering heat, lack of food and antihistamines on an empty stomach..... I pulled over twice for breaks, just because of that...I felt better after I had a good lunch....

So the pharmacist said that my bee / wasp sting symptoms were not indicative of an anaphylactic reaction, and to keep tabs on whether subsequent stings get worse. I've had a number of stings the last few years, they get big, but I can't say they are getting worse...The dizzyness I felt was probably from the benadryl itself.....

He said to keep doing what I have been, take antihistamines along, and cover up. I feel a lot better after hearing that!

Epi-pens are generally for those who are at risk of going into shock, so I may be off the hook as far as needing to get one.

I still think I'll get tested when I get back to Vic, just so I know for sure, but for now, prevention is probably best.

Glad I got that worry out of the way. I picked up a few bandanas at the Dollar store.

I realized in B-lining it to PG, that I was burning a lot more gas than I thought! I hit empty at 135kms, instead of my typical 160-170. I guess the extra weight and 120-130kph. speeds were the cause. I think I'll go mellow to Smithers and see if it makes a difference. I may be picking up a 3rd jerry yet....

I thought with the gearing change that I would save a lot more than I did. I guess 130 is 130, no matter what the gearing! That being said, my dipstick still registered by the time I got to PG, so I am burning less oil!

The gearing feels great on the highway, way less vibration and noise.

I did a quick powerline ride unloaded today, made it through the hill climbs, but with a lot more clutching...Sandy, sandy whips out here, a bit challenging for an Islander with bald tires!!! Real fun to hit up the old spots I used to mountain bike on!!!

Going to try to bribe an official and get into Alaska without a passport!

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With all due seriousness, I would not fart around with the border.

The US is at an elevated alert level, and I have known of people who have, and you could find yourself with a US travel ban and possibly even a Interpol record.

If you do make it onto US soil, the Canadian border officials have sent people back across the border if it was obvious they enter the US illegally.

Way back in the 90's (ie. pre 9/11) a friend's brother was visiting from France with another friend. This friend did not have a US visa. But went to Detroit anyway. Upon returning the Canadian officials sent the car back across the border, where the car was impounded and all 3 of the kids arrested.

IIRC Hyder does not have an official US border patrol office/gate, but the Canadian side does.

If you do not have a US Green Card, NEXXUS card, or Passport, I would not do it!

At the end of the day, with a Canadian D/L they will let you back into Canada, but very possibly not until AFTER the US Customs/Border are done with you.

This just might be a brain fart from a Canadian who is a legal resident of the US.